By Greg Bishop, Associate Editor
The Center Square

Monday begins the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and leaders from both parties in Illinois are outlining how they see the major event impacting taxpayers.

Just as with the Republican National Convention last month in Milwaukee, the DNC in Chicago will cost taxpayers $75 million. Law enforcement agencies from around the area are on the ground with security perimeters around the United Center and McCormick Place. Tens of thousands of protesters are also expected.

Rallying Democrats at the Illinois State Fair Wednesday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker previewed his plans to showcase the policies he and Democrats have enacted in the Land of Lincoln to those visiting Chicago.

“I just want to be a good host,” Pritzker told the media. “I want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to show off what a great state we are.”

From a stage at the state fair, Pritzker said Illinois Democrats will show the national party that “Democrats deliver.” He said because of policies he’s enacted, Illinois is a safe haven for abortion.

“They have to escape states like Iowa and Kentucky and Missouri and where do they come? The great state of Illinois,” Pritzker said.

Another policy the Pritzker administration enacted was taxpayer subsidies for health care for non-citizens.

Numbers obtained by The Center Square show as of July 9, nearly 53,000 non-citizens are enrolled in the Health Benefits for Immigrant Adults and Seniors programs. Of that, the race of more than 19,000 is not known. The ethnicity of more than 10,000 participants isn’t known. As of June 2024, the total cost of the program to taxpayers since July 2023 is $711 million.

Illinois Republican state Sen. Terri Bryant said that’s indicative of the program.

“It is very disturbing to see that there is so much money going out and it’s questionable where that money is going,” Bryant said at a GOP news conference Friday.

Bryant doesn’t doubt a Kamala Harris administration would prioritize more taxpayer funds for non-citizen migrants.

State Sen. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, said while the DNC will be a huge media production, once it’s over, Americans will have to come back to reality.

“Every single time when they go to the grocery store, when they go to their local supply store to pick up supplies or fill their gas tank, they’re going to be reminded of what the Democrat agenda looks like and how it affects them,” Rezin said.

The convection runs through Thursday with events at the United Center and McCormick Place in Chicago.